Part of the historic agreement will see Tourism NT become a major sponsor of the Reds and have its branding on the back of the club-s playing shirts for the next two Hyundai A-League seasons.

Adelaide United will also play a pre-season game in Alice Springs in 2014 and 2015 in addition to the Reds having a year-round presence in the region, providing significant benefits to the local community over the next two years.

“The Territory now has an A-League club to call their own,” Mr Conlan said.

“Known as the Reds, it-s fitting that the Red Centre will be Adelaide United-s new home away from home.

Adelaide United FC-s two-year agreement with the Territory Government includes:

AUFC to play a pre-season A-League match in Alice Springs in 2014 and 2015

AUFC to run an intensive one week training camp in Alice Springs in 2014 and 2015

AUFC to play a NT representative side each year with two Territorians chosen from this match to train in Adelaide with the senior and youth squads for one week

AUFC to employ a full-time development officer to be based in Alice Springs

Community engagement and training programs to help develop the sport in Alice Springs

Skills clinics and remote community visits by players

“This agreement will undoubtedly help grow football in Central Australia,” Mr Conlan said.

“The Club will conduct training camps and clinics during extended visits to the Centre and work closely with local coaches to oversee the development of our juniors to improve their pathways to the elite level, which will hopefully one day see them playing in the A-League.”

Mr Conlan said the Territory-s relationship with the Reds will be hard to miss with the famous NT Tourism brolga logo to be displayed on the club-s match day playing shirts from this season.

“Tourism NT-s sponsorship of Adelaide United will expose the NT to the growing A-League fan base and a wider Australian audience,” Mr Conlan said.

“The partnership will boost holiday visitors to the Territory with the agreement to promote our bold new marketing strategy Do the NT. The sponsorship agreement will allow us to connect sports fans and corporate members in Adelaide to the Territory via airlines, the Ghan and the lucrative drive market.

“Domestically, we will undertake a ‘Reds to the Rock- campaign to encourage more South Australians and football fans to tour the Territory and tick off a bucket list item of visiting Central Australia.

“Internationally, Adelaide United has a strong profile in Asia (it is Australia-s most successful Australian club in the AFC Champions League) and is planning further trips to Japan and Hong Kong which will help promote the Territory in the region.

The Tourism NT sponsorship includes:

A full colour Tourism NT logo to be placed on the back of the AUFC match day strip,

Tourism NT will link with the club-s social media and database networks with year round opportunities to feature special offers

Monthly promotions of NT Business Events Opportunities

“This is a terrific opportunity to promote the Territory with a club that secured almost 300,000 people at its matches last year, almost 750,000 site views on its club site and reaches a national broadcast audience of more than 2.5 million,” Mr Conlan said.

“It-s an opportunity too good to pass up and will help kick goals for Territory tourism.”

Elliott said that the partnership was sure to provide substantial benefits to both parties, and the Reds would look to become the Hyundai A-League team that Territorians could connect and affiliate themselves with.

“This is a particularly exciting announcement for the club,” Mr Elliott said.

“The Northern Territory is an iconic tourism destination and we are proud to have the world renowned Tourism NT branding on our strip as a Major Partner.

“There has always been a natural connection between South Australia and the Territory and now that extends to football.”